Eva Zeisel

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Rae

This week is the last week of classes in the Winter Session at the art center where I teach.  The focus of our session was “Production Pottery” in which we made dinnerware pieces.  As I was preparing for our last class, I began to think about Eva Zeisel, a renowned potter whose dinnerware was made available through industrial reproduction.

Eva Zeisel died on December 30, 2011; and the ceramics world collectively grieved.  I read several articles about her shortly after she passed away.  She is known in for her beautiful dinnerware – clean, modern, organic, and elegant.  It was cast and reproduced for mass market by several ceramic industries.

One of the articles celebrating her life (Zeisel) was reprinted in our local newspaper.  Although the author, Lance Esplund, had met Zeisel, he claimed that he mostly knew Zeisel through her work.  Esplund said to sit down to a table ‘enlivened’ by her dinnerware was “not to simply dine but to engage with art”… amazing praise for a potter.

There were so many interesting things about this potter – her imprisonment, a long and successful career in ceramics, and her legacy of pots.  She made what she loved or re-worked others’ designs all in her “playful search for beauty”.  So as this brief session on dinnerware concludes, I am inspired by Eva Zeisel’s  endowment to modern ceramics.

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Winter Luxuries for a Potter

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Rae

Winters in eastern NC are usually mild and 2012 has been exceptionally mild. But, we had a cold snap, and although I have a small space heater in my studio that manages to take most of the chill out, it never gets really warm.  So even though I love making pots, it is still hard to motivate myself to go to the cold studio when the house is warm and bright. The recent below-freezing nights made me think of the small indulgences that make working in the winter a little easier for me.

  • Warm water – a bucket of warm throwing water makes all the difference. I heard of a potter who uses an aquarium heater to keep the bucket of water warm. But, I don’t live in a climate that demands such level of attentiveness.
  • Hand cream – strategically placed for easy accessibility (beside the sink, in my desk drawer, on my bedside table, in the car, and in my purse). Although this luxury isn’t limited to winter, I use hand cream more frequently this time of year.  I like small bottles of any unscented varieties but I don’t have a favorite.
  • ¾ length sleeve shirts – they keep me warm without getting wet and nasty when I throw.
  • Shade tank tops – they are close fitting and LONG. I wear them under my shirts and the extra length keeps my back covered when I work on the wheel. I don’t like any cold blasts of air.
  • Clay stored in the house – it is warm and I don’t get an ice-cream headache when I throw with it.
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The Potter and the Baker

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Rae

I love to cook; but baking was never a passion.  It had to do with 2 things: calories and messiness.  No matter what you bake, there are a lot of calories.  And, sous-potter, Jeff, doesn’t like breads or sweets, which means the bulk of the calories are mine to consume unless I can find some other sacrificial soul.

The other reason I didn’t care for baking was the mess – flour everywhere and sticky hands.  But, working in clay has made me much more comfortable with sticky hands.  Whereas I used to stop every few minutes and wipe them clean, I’m more comfortable with messy hands and only stop to clean them when it is necessary for the task rather than repetitively washing them.  Pottery also taught me how to keep my work space tidy.  I am also more conscientious about using tools and putting them away immediately because no matter what the studio or kitchen size, there is never enough space so I’ve learned to protect workspace by keeping things orderly and out of the way.

As I was making sugar cookies this weekend, I realized how much pottery has improved my baking skills.  I rolled out the dough much more evenly and I didn’t over work it (this may not be a benefit from clay but a result of laziness because most of the clay I wedge has air bubbles in it – I have never been guilty of over working clay).  And, I had a steadier hand when I was decorating the cookies – probably a result of a lot of practice slip trailing.

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February’s Hiatus

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Rae

February is an uneventful time of year.  The holidays have been packed away; the football season is over; and craft  shows are several months away.   So there isn’t much in the way of demand from February.

Because of the hiatus in activity, this is a great time for me to work on developing new ideas.  In 2010, we worked on glaze combinations by testing lots of glazes on small bowls, which resulted in a few signature combinations.  In 2011, we practiced under-glazing and glaze-resisting techniques on small plates and bowls, which resulted in a few signature patterns.  This year, I am working on incorporating texture to give the pots more depth.  The most recent pots have been decorated with slipped designs.  This sort of work is difficult for me because I need to have an idea before I throw a pot.  That means I am spending a lot of time looking at photos of fabrics, jewelry, scenery, decorations, patterns, etc.  before I even get into the studio.  I need inspiration!  So any suggestions would be welcome.

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Production Pottery – Storage

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Rae

When making functional pottery it is vital that the pots perform their role well; but, when making dinnerware sets, it is also necessary to consider how those pots function when they are NOT in use.  So once you have acquired the skills to make similar pots the same size (challenge no. 1) and once you have developed a conceptual resolution to make dissimilar pots relate (challenge no. 2), you must also consider the pot’s non-function (i.e. storage).  Because many pots comprise a dinnerware set, storage becomes an issue for the owners. Consider how the pots will stack in the cupboard or dishwasher.  You may prefer a cereal bowl to be low and wide; and, you may prefer soup bowls to curve inward so the soup will stay warm longer.  The result is the cereal bowls stack more compactly than the soup bowls.   Either way, functional choices should be made with full recognition of the consequences on how well a pot performs when it is not in use.

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Production Pottery – Challenge #2

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Rae

“Technical ability grows naturally with experience, but conceptual rigor needs constant attention and exploration.”  Sean O’Connell

Although not all potters aspire to be production potters, all potters will benefit from the skills required to make dinnerware.  Potters who can make multiple pots similar in form and size are efficient throwers and have the technical skills to accomplish any sort of pot.  And, potters who can develop a unified dinnerware set are effective in creatively relating one pot to another.

Essentially, there are two basic to making dinnerware sets:

  • Similar pieces must be similar
  • Dissimilar pieces must relate to one another

No. 2:  Dissimilar pieces must relate to one another – the dinner plate and the chili bowl must look like they belong to the same series.  Although there are some technical considerations, this challenge is mainly conceptual.  How do you go about creating a family of pots?

Here are some tips that can help achieve this:

  • Use the same clay for the entire family of pots
  • Glaze the family of pots in the same glaze(s) – this is the easiest way to make diverse pots relate; color unifies and mutes differences
  • Glaze the family of pots at the same time
  • Fire glazed pots in the same kiln firing
  • Make structural marks when throwing
  • Add texture – carving or slip on all pots
  • Use wax resist to make similar patterns on the pots
  • Use the same rim treatment on all pots – cut/wavy/split/squared
  • Keep shapes similar – organic/geometric/chunky/elegant

Making a dinnerware set requires getting plates and bowls and tumblers to associate with one another.  Ask yourself how you can make the pieces relate to one another.  Give your pots something to make them look like they are a family.  This is a huge challenge and one that you may enjoy resolving over and over again!

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Groundhog Day!

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Rae

I interrupt this series of posts on Production Pottery to wish you  Happy Groundhog Day!  (which should be a nationl holiday for potters).

Every February 2nd we turn our eyes toward Pennnsylvania and wait for Punxsutawney Phil to tell us if spring is here or if winter will be around a bit longer.  Several years ago, Bill Murray starred in the movie Groundhog Day – which (I think) did more than Phil ever did to raise the cultural awareness of this heretofore quiet holiday.

In the movie, Murray’s character is stuck re-living Groundhog Day until he understands that his selfish habits don’t get him what he really wants and until he makes the appropriate changes.  Although the movie may be a bit annoying, there is a lesson – continue to practice and make changes until you get it right, anything less isn’t worth keeping.

As a potter, I know that in order to make better pots, I must make a lot of pots.  By practicing and making changes, potters develop  a foundation of technical skills out of which more creative and innovative pots can be made.  No matter how wonderful or authentic an idea is, if you don’t have the basic skills to execute it, you will not be able to create it.  Visions and ideas are only tangible when they are manifested.  So maybe Groundhog Day should be a national holiday for everyone pursuing excellence because repetition is the key to mastery.

Posted in Inspiration, Multiples, Philosophy | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Production Pottery – Challenge #1

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Rae

Although not all potters aspire to be production potters, all potters will benefit from the skills required to make dinnerware.  Potters who can make multiple pots similar in form and size are efficient throwers and have the technical skills to accomplish any sort of pot.  Their only  limitations are desire, creativity, and time.

Essentially, there are two basic challenges to making dinnerware sets:

  • Similar pieces must be similar
  • Dissimilar pieces must relate to one another

Challenge No. 1:  Similar pieces must be similar – essentially, this means that each salad plate you make should be like every other salad plate in size and shape.

Here are some tips that can help to accomplish this:

  • Measure, Measure, Measure
  • Weigh the clay and record it
  • Note the starting diameter of the clay disc before opening and record it
  • Measure the inner diameter and record it
  • Measure the outer diameter and record it
  • Measure the height and record it
  • Measure anything that is helpful to you to replicate the shape and record it
  • Make adjustments to define the pot shape and establish your ‘recipe’
  • Use the same tools to throw and shape the pot – changing tools will result in a different outcome
  • If trimming a foot, trim to a specific diameter (this is the easiest challenge to overcome)
  • Throw all the pieces in one sitting (ex. make all the salad plates in one session)
  • Trim all the pieces in one sitting
  • Make an extra piece – if you want a place setting for 4, make 5
When making multiples, don’t overlook a good pot simply because it doesn’t match the set.  A bowl might be a good bowl in its own right – keep it and use it individually or as a glaze test.  
Posted in Class, Dinnerware, How-to, Multiples | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Production Pottery – Tools

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Rae

There are two fundamental challenges to making dinnerware.  The first challenge is to make similar pieces look similar (i.e. one salad plate should look like all the other salad plates).  This is accomplished by making pots that are the same size and shape.  Making pots that are the same size will help them look like they belong together; and, it is easier to replicate size (height and width) than it is to replicate shape – the key is to measure.  Fortunately, there are a few tools that can help potters in their quest to make place settings.

A good scale is indispensable when making sets.  Starting with the same amount of clay will help a potter make subsequent pots in a set.  I have two Escali scales and recommend them highly (they also come in a variety of fun colors).  For more elaboration on what to consider in a scale, refer to the blog entry “Potter’s Tool Kit – Scale“.

A ruler is very basic but essential tool.  Measuring height and width will help potters make sets and will help develop a ‘recipe’ of important statistics.

Calipers will make measuring diameters more accurate and with less distortion of the pot.

Pointer or chopsticks can expedite pot production because after you set the height and diameter, you can throw each pot to those dimensions without stopping several times to measure.  Although these help, it is still a good idea to measure the height and width in case the pointer or chopstick gets bumped during throwing.

I recommend keeping a studio notebook where you can record measurements and notes.  This is a good reference in case you need to make a replacement plate or bowl in the future.

Posted in Class, Dinnerware, How-to, Multiples, Review, Scale, Tools | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Production Pottery

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Rae

Pottery classes have resumed  at the art center, and, I am thrilled to be back among such passionate people.  This session, we are working on dinnerware which is a sneaky way to have everyone make multiples – after all, there is no better way to acquire technical skills other than practice.

Although  not all potters want to be production potters, all potters benefit from the sills required to make multiple pots that are similar in form and size.  Basic technical skills are prerequisites to any creative endeavor.

Essentially, there are two basic challenges for potters to resolve when making dinnerware sets:

  1. Similar pieces must be similar
  2. Dissimilar pieces must relate to one another
In the next few posts, I will share some thoughts and tips for overcoming these challenges.
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